Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-11-03
OUR MEANS OF DEFENSE.
Views OF Gen. Benet in His Annual Re-
port

OUR MEANS OF DEFENSE.
Views Of Gen. Benet in His Annual Re-
port.
THE ZALINsKI DYNAMITE GuN-rHE DEVICES OF GEN.
kELroS-sEA-coAsr DKFENsEs-sNALL ARMS IN
THE SERVICE, THE EIGHT-INCH GUN, ETC
Gen. s. V. Benet chief Of ordnance, in his annual
report 10 the Secretary OF War; says in relation to
small arms that during the nscal year ended June
~ 1887, 4l1O6 rifles and carbnes have been man.
uIactured at the national armory. The question
vi reduced caifber for small arms Is now under
consioerauon by the Department. An effective
ana SIMPLE magazine gun has become q necessity,
ana This bureau has during many years endeayored
through boards and trials in the eld to settle on
one tnat would be satisfactory to the Army, but
thus far without success The Department is,
however, seeking to reach such result. Carrying
OUT Ine orders and Intentions OF the War Depart
ment respecting rife practice throughout the
Army ID LIBERAL spirit has taxed TO the full the
resources or the Department in ammunition and
saigeI supplies. The Army and country have,
however, been most amply repaid for this expendi-
ture OF ammunition ut the military posts by the
success which accompany the several annual
most excellent results demands larger apprOpria-
ti0ns for Cartridges and target material tnan have
matter. SO necessary 70 the effectiSeness Of our our
SIN II army, deserves the favorable action OF Con-
gress
DEVICES FOR INCREASING THE EFFICIENCY OF CAV
He states that the device by which the horse Of
the mounted cavalryman can be controlled while
The hands OF the rider are engaged with his fire
weapon, safety-stOp for the pistol by which the
ACCIDENTAL discharge OF the cooked revolver in
.ahks l VIII De preventAd, and an inexpensive car
trdge pack by means OF which the jOinted revolver
can be quickly reloaded, designed by Asst. Adju-
tant-general kelton, have each been tried this
year Dy q troop OF cavalry at Fort LeavenwOrth,
and with highly satisfactory results
me provisions or law making increased appro-
prlallOnS for arms and oQu pment OF the militia,
General Benet considers wise, and will have tend
ency to place the militia on proper footing and
encourage an efficient organization Throughout the
country.
IN RELATION TO sEA-CoAsT DEFENsEs
Gen. Benet says: at is not necessary to enrerinto
discussion OF the necessity for sea-coast armament,
nor OF the possibility OF future disbandment Of
armies and the settlement OF International contro-
VersleS with the pen instead Of the sword. What
may be In the near distant future in this regard
tne most astute statesman cannot divine. Our
dealings, however, are with the immediate present.
and II the recurrence Of wars are likely to follow
ample preparation, Europe in arms would seem to
Indicate that the days Of peaceful arbitration have
not yet been reached. It can hardly be recon-.
mended that while waiting for this future poSSi-
bility, our shores should continue unguarded and
Rams and torpedoes and dynamite guns are power
ful auxliar1es In harbOr Defense but the war con-
di1ons yet obtaining will not dispense with the
hard hammefing OF heavy shot moving with high
velocity because these auxliaries themselves need
protection and OF most perfect character. The
dynamite guns with limited range cannot be
left to the mercy OF the much-longer reashing
guns OF the enemy's ships The attacking ships
must be kept at distance by heavy guns and
Of mortars enabling US to compensate BY num-
bers for any lack Of accuracy OF fire. AS pro-
1ecttle force gunpowder yet stands supreme. 1t
strikes It's terrific blow at long distances Its arm
reaches many miles; 1t plants its blows with un-
errtng certainty. We cannot dispense with such
force, so readily handled. so thoroughly under
stood Heavy cannon are therefore necessity, and
must be provided, and our unprotected coasts de-
mand that they be provided speedily. These necessi-
quality; cannon OF steel which have been adopted
BY the world after most thorough and satisfactory
experiment and trial; cannon that Will place this
Will cost money; but not more than the loss to the
cities OF New York and Brooklyn from one days
saas and oss Is anCwn e
and committees, reports OF Official experts the
writings In the public press, Individual views.
people, and the responsibility for veal or woe,
Tor success or disaster, must remain with the
people. AT this time no half measures will do.
Congress should decide, and decide at once An
other year ought not TO pass without o settled
and well-denned policy in regard to the national
defense. Individual interests must yield TO the
puol1c good. II Is for Congress to inaugurate thus
great work OF coast armament. The positive and
practical experience OF the Midvale Works and the
Cambria Works Is TO the extent OF their facilities
equal TO that or foreign establishments and these
results are, In large degree, the outcome OF high
standards, close specifications and most rigid
supervision and inspection, enforced by this De-
portant work cannot be entrusted to better or
more sk1llful hands than to the Officers OF the
ordnance Department OF the Army"
THE ZALINsKI DYNAMITE TORPEDO GUN.
"This modern ballisric engine has been so far
perfected as to render It practicable to project to
nv rnaQ nf Good
ar, large charges of high explosives with safety,
certainly, and accuracy OF nre which render 1t a
source or great danger to the decks OF hostile
ships. More than this an electric fuse, capable
OF being actuated by contact With salt water, has
been devised ana tested with promising success,
which should more than double the value OF the
gun aS weapon for coast defense. II, as 1t Is
claimed, charges Of 500 lbs Of expldsive gelatine
or dy Mantle can be projected to distance OF from
70 miles, and detonated after entering the
water, with fair degree OF probability that ex-
plosion will occur Immediately under or near the
hull or a ship, below the armOr protection the
most destructive effects are to Oe expected,
structed The result is much the same,
though with perhaps less certainty OF action,
channel by means OF nxed mines, but with the
obvious advantage Of being able to Shift at WILL as
1t were, the location OF the rOrped0 fleld to any
Ship The latter Is thus placed At 4 the ed disadvants
age OF always being compelled to cruise over an
area beset with submarine mines so long as II Is
Within range OF the gun. 1t Is not intended, by
implication even, that liked mines are to be aban-
doned, but on the contrary that the two systems
supplement each other into a vastly more power
ful combination OF explosives, and become a most
essential adjunct to the heavy guns OF great range
and power, which are Of necessity, as arm0r-
piercing weapons, the basis OF all armament for
coast defense l would recommend the purchase
OF one OF these guns, say OF 12-inch caNber, for
exhaustive trials OF gun and pro1ectile with the
object OF determining the full extent OF their
capacity and fitness for coast defense"
THE STEVENS DYNAMITE SHELL
"During the year further experiments have been
made at the ordnance proving ground in firing
shell charged with high explosives from ordinary
cannon by means OF gunpOwder. Among the de-
vices OF this class tested, and merfting favorable
mention, Is shell invented by Mr.. B. ID. Stevens
OF B1rington, Vt. In the experiments with this
shell y was charged wi explosive gelatne and re-
finch NJ. L. rifle using the battering charge for
that gun. The results obtained are deemed OF Suf-
ncient promise to tusttfya extended trial. and
the 1r1ngs will be continued at an early day."
rHE EIGHT-rNcH GUN.
The report states that the ballistic results from
this gun that is to the energy developedin the
projectle, exceed the published results OF any gun
OF like caliber extant As regards accuracy, 80 far
as that has been tested It was asCeraned that for
range OF 1900 yards or nearly N miles tie GEN.
tiers OF all the snot-hOlee were contained within
circle OF 6h feet diameter.
E1ihu B. Wash hurne,s VIII.
MONEY LEFT TO HIS CRIIDREN--sEvERAL REQUESTS
10 CHARrrABLE INSTITUTIONS.
The will OF the late Elihu B. Washburne was
admitted to probate In Chicago yesterday. The
estate is worth $780, 600, consisting OF personal
prOuoVfv vo,,,od e-So onn ma voor tn tho